Pallister PCs Continue to Block New Anti-Bullying Legislation: Allum

Fort Garry-Riverview MLA James Allum today called on Brian Pallister’s PCs to stop preventing Bill 18, the government’s anti-bullying bill, from being debated in committee.

For the seventh time, Brian Pallister’s PCs today prevented the bill from proceeding to committee and giving Manitobans the chance to have their say on the proposed law. Today PC
MLAs even opposed a question from an NDP MLA to the Minister of Education about bullying and used filibuster tactics to push back debate on the bill.

"Far too often students are subjected to homophobic and other forms of bullying. That’s why parents want action to protect their kids," Allum said. "It’s time for Brian
Pallister’s PCs to end the games and let students, parents and teachers have their say."

Allum noted that for months, Pallister and PC MLAs have actively opposed Bill 18, which would target cyberbullying and allow students to establish support groups in schools, such
as gay-straight alliances (GSAs), which have helped teens cope with and fight bullying.

A number of Brian Pallister’s PCs have organized and taken action to oppose Bill 18:

MLA Kelvin Goertzen is helping to lead the campaign against Bill 18 on Facebook. He said he has “never been more proud of [his] community” after more than 1200 people gathered
to oppose gay-straight alliances in schools. (Winnipeg Free Press, Feb. 26/13)

"Bill 18 is part of a broad anti-bullying action plan that includes supports for parents, resources for teachers, and a new provincial code of conduct on the disciplinary
consequences of bullying," Allum said. "We know that students can’t learn if they feel threatened or intimidated at school."